Steam-trap and boiler-feeder



(NoMotlel.)

R. W. CLARK. STEAM TRAP AND BOILER FEEDER.

10-289,388. ented Dec. 4- 1188s.

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PatinNT @trice ROBERT \V. CLARK, OEBUFFALO, NEW" YORK.

ApSTEAivi-TRAP AND BOlLER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,388, dated December 4, 1883.

` i Y u I ApplicationfiledJ'unegli,1887. (Noinodnl.)

.T all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT WV. CLARK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIteturn Steam Traps and Boiler-Feedersof which the ibllowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide the means for taking the condensed water into the trap from the coils of pipes fory heating buildings, or from other sources, and returning it or feeding ittto the boiler by means of j a iioat and its connecting parts operated by drawings, in which-- the rise and fall of the condensed water, the operation ofthe float being such that the water rises within the trap faster than the float until it passes a given point, when it fully opens the valve by a sudden upward movement, and on the return movement the level of the water, as it passes into the boiler, falls faster than the iloat until after the iloat has moved down past a given point, when, by a quick movement downward, it opens the valve to its fullest extent, by means which will be fully and clearly hereinafter shown and described by reference to the accompanying Figure lis avertical section in or about line X X, Fig. 2.

section through .valve e,

The casing or shell ofthe tra-p is composed of two parts, a a', `bolted together by bolts c2. A smaller casing, et, is secured to the upper part ofthe case a by bolts a". The float ai is a hollow metallic ball having a tube, b, adapt ed to slide up and down on the rod b. This rod b is secured in bearings b2 b, and is adapted to slide easily up and down. bearing is on the curved frame b4, and is secured in place by bolts b5, or in any other wellknown or equivalent way, and the upper bearing, b3, is secured in position at the top of the case within the casing a, -On the rod 0,with in the casing aiare two projecting pieces, c c',

i secured in place by screws c, and may be made adjustable up and down the rod, if desired. The upper portion of the case as is provided with two jointed arms, c3 c4. The arm c3 is provided with a counter-weight, c5, to keep it Fig. 2 represents aplan or top view of the trap complete, and Fig. 3 is a,

The lower` alent spring may be used in its place, if desired. It is jointed to the case a3 by a pin, d.

On the outside of the case is a small projecg down in position; but a spiral or other equivthe opposite side of the case a by a pin, d",

and falls down by its own gravity against the inward projection d5, which limits its motion in that direction. Its upward motion is limited by the inward projection e. It is also provided with a spring, e, secured in place by a thumb-screw, e2. The rod b passes through the top ofthe casing a, and is provided with a slotted end, e2, through which the pin e on the arm c* passes. The arm e" is connected to a valve, e5, which it operates. I have shown a suitable valve; but any other valve adapted for the purpose will answer.

f is a steam-pipe leading from the boiler to theV trap, and is connected in any suitable way to the casing ci. The rod Z1 is provided with stops f f2,held in place by set-screwsflft, to limit the movement ofthe iioat a5 up and down before it operates or moves the rod b. The outlet-pipef5, leading into the boiler, is provided with a valve, g, constructed in the usual manner. At the opposite side of the the lower pa'rt of the case is the inlet-pipe g, provided with a valve, g2, constructed in the usual way.

The operation of the invention is as follows: As the condensed water from the heating-coils, or from any other source, passes through the pipe g', it lifts the valvegz, and, passing into the trap, continues to rise and lifts the, float. It moves up at iirst without moving the rod-b until it reaches the stop f', when it moves the rod up until the point g3 ofthe stop or piece c comes in contact with `the spring d, which prevents tlie float from moving fartherI up until the water rises sufficiently high inthe trap to overcome the resistance, when the point g suddenly passes the end of the spring, thereby allowing the iioat to move quickly up and open the valve c5 to its fullest extent. This IOO operation allows the steam from the boiler to pass into the trap with sufficient pressure to hold the valve g2 down and stop the condensed water from coming in, and opens the valve g, so that the water Within the trap is forced through the opening around the valve g into the boiler until the lowering of the oat brings the point of thepart c past the spring e and closes the valve e5, when the trap is relieved from the steam-pressure, and the pressure from the condensed-water pipe g lifts the valve, and it passes in again and repeats the process. By this operation the motion of the iioat is retarded to a certain point, after which it is instantly released, and with the accumulated force, caused by the rise of the Water, it moves quickly up and opens the valve at once, and it operates in a similar way in its downward movement to close the valve quickly.

I do not claim a pivoted lever having a lug or cam at its end in combination with a float, as that has been done before; but

What I do claim as my invention isl. A steam-trap provided with inlet and outlet valves, a iioat adapted to move up and down on a vertical rod provided With stops for' limiting its movement before moving the until the water has risen sufficiently to move it by the spring and open the valve7 as described.

3. In a steam-trap, a iloat adapted to move up and down against stops on a vertical rod, in combination with the projection c and spring e', and their several connections, substantially as specified, for the purpose of suddenly closing the valve e5, as described.

ROBERT' W. CLARK.

Witnesses:

J .nuns SANGsTER, F. W. BRAUN. 

